by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

President Obama on Monday asked Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz to stay on as chairwoman of the national Democratic Party.

Obama made the news official in a tweet, and the Florida congresswoman said she would be "honored" to serve again as the head of Democratic National Committee (DNC).

"I've asked Debbie Wasserman Schultz to continue her excellent work as chair of the DNC. Thanks for all you do, Debbie," Obama said on Twitter. It was signed with Obama's initials, which indicates he sent the tweet personally.

The Democratic Party will meet in January, after Obama's inauguration, to formally elect Wasserman Schultz to a second term as the party's leader.

Obama originally tapped Wasserman Schultz last spring to be the face of the Democratic Party after Tim Kaine resigned as DNC chairman to run for U.S. Senate in Virginia. The congresswoman has represented a South Florida district in the U.S. House since 2005.

Wasserman Schultz, a prolific fundraiser, was a vocal critic of GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney. She was a strong advocate of Obama's stance on Israel and helped reach out to Jewish voters in Florida, as Romney and his allies sought to portray Obama as undermining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel.

Obama narrowly won Florida and 69% of the Jewish vote in November.

Terms of party leaders are typically four years. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus has said he will seek a second term as leader of the GOP when his party meets early next year.

Obama's desire to re-appoint Wasserman Schultz was first reported by Politico.